DIY Moisturising Bath Bombs Recipe – Homemade Milk & Honey Bath Bomb

Country Hill Cottage
by Country Hill Cottage

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Enjoy a hydrating and relaxing bath with these DIY moisturizing bath bombs! The easy bath bomb recipe, made with cocoa butter, milk powder, and honey powder, will leave your skin supple and soft.

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Moisturizing Milk Honey Bath Bombs



DIY moisturizing bath bombs

When you think about What can I put in my bath to soften my skin? or How can I make my bath more moisturizing? bath bombs may not be your first thought. Sure, bath bombs smell amazing, and it’s fun to watch them fizz away in the tub. But do bath bombs moisturize? Well, they can be hydrating and suitable for dry skin – with the right ingredients.

Moisturizing milk and honey bath bombs

These homemade hydrating bath bombs are a great addition to make your bath more moisturizing. They get their hydrating and skin-nourishing qualities from the addition of cocoa butter, powdered milk, and honey powder.

Cocoa butter hydrates even very dry and sensitive skin, providing long-lasting moisturization. The milk fat and proteins make your skin feel soft and nourished. Furthermore, the lactic acid gently exfoliates the skin while you soak. The nutrients and healing compounds within honey powder amplify these effects and helps to keep your skin the healthiest it can be.

The milk and cocoa butter create a fluffy foam when the bath fizzies melt away in the bathwater.

What are the benefits of a milk and honey bath?

The ingredients in these DIY moisturizing bath bombs turn the water into a silky and luxurious honey milk bath. Milk baths have been used for ages to improve skin health and improve the beauty of the skin. Personally, I think they are an excellent addition to your natural beauty routine.


Possible benefits of a honey milk bath can include:

  • Milk and honey help to replenish lost moisture in the skin and soothe dry, itchy skin.


  • As mentioned before, the lactic acid in milk and the enzymes in honey have cleansing properties, gently exfoliate the skin, and clean dead skin cells.
  • A milk and honey bath can also help to soothe and relieve skin irritations. The antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties of honey are beneficial to heal and nourish the skin.
  • Both ingredients are also said to have an antiaging effect, helping to reduce fine lines and cellulite dimples.
  • Taking a bath also is a wonderful spa experience and enhances relaxation. I simply love to destress and untangle in the tub and enjoy the calming, rejuvenating effect a bath can have.

And if you love milk and honey as much as we do, try Cyna’s  milk and honey body wash, too.

More DYI bath products for dry skin

To moisturize your skin while you bathe, also try my  rose bath trufflesfloral bath creamers, or this  relaxing bath oil.


What ingredients do I need to make easy DIY moisturizing bath bombs at home?

Like most bath bomb recipes, the materials to make these DIY moisturizing bath bombs include  baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) and  citric acid. I have talked about these two ingredients in other recipes, and you can learn more here.


Now let’s talk about what ingredients you can put in bath bombs to soften your skin.

Cocoa butter

Cocoa butter makes the bathwater feel silky smooth and luxurious. The butter contains many natural vitamins and fatty acids that provide nourishment and moisture to the skin. Cocoa butter is rich in antioxidants and an excellent emollient, meaning it helps the skin absorb moisture.

Shea butter is a great alternative in case you prefer to make DIY bath bombs with shea butter. The steps are the same, but you may have to adjust the amount of shea butter to get the right consistency.

One thing to note is that bath bombs with oils in them don’t dry as rock hard as bath bombs made solely with alcohol or witch hazel. Bath bombs with shea butter or cocoa butter also tend to be slightly less fizzy than oil-free bath bombs.

I found that these milk and honey bath bombs still fizz away nicely and I love the skin-hydrating properties of cocoa butter.

For those interested in oil-free moisturizing bath bombs that have a great fizz, check out these strawberry milkshake bath bombs I shared over on Everything Pretty.


Milk powder

For this recipe, I used  goat milk powder, which is packed with nutrients such as lactic acid, minerals calcium, magnesium, and potassium, as well as vitamins A and D. It helps to moisturize the skin and hair. Water reconstitutes the milk powder, giving the bathwater a lush and silky texture.

This powder also contains linoleic acid, which supports the skin structure, and other essential fatty acids that are very moisturizing and help to even out the skin tone. And if you are wondering, no, it doesn’t smell like a goat at all.

You can also use  whole milk powder or  coconut milk powder instead.

Honey powder

Honey powder has many skincare benefits. It’s naturally antiseptic, antimicrobial, and has anti-inflammatory properties that can help to soothe irritated, inflamed skin and can be beneficial to fight and reduce acne.

As a natural humectant, honey traps moisture and will help to moisturize and strengthen the skin. Its many essential minerals (calcium, iron, zinc, phosphorus, selenium, and magnesium), vitamins B and C, and enzymes nourish the skin, exfoliate gently, and control your skin’s oil production.


Mica powder

Many bath bomb recipes suggest using food colour to tint bath bombs because food colours are widely available and safe to use.

But have you ever used food colour in your bath bombs and noticed that there was no colour in the bathwater? While food colour can tint bath bombs nicely, they aren’t really intended to be used in cosmetic products, and their pigments are not strong enough to colour a tub full of water. That being said, you can still use them.


Mica powders, on the other hand, are potent cosmetic pigments and will release colour nicely into the bathwater. Micas are ideal for bath bombs because they are dry powders instead of liquids and won’t change the consistency of the bath bomb mixture. Since the colouring effect is so strong, it’s best to start out with small amounts and gradually add more.

When you mix the mica powder with the dry ingredients, the colour will appear lighter than in the finished bath bombs. Once you add the liquid ingredients (cocoa butter in this recipe), you’ll notice how the shade deepens, and the colour looks richer.

Mica powders come in countless colours, and I love this  set of 21 mica powders.

Polysorbate 80

Polysorbate 80 is a water-soluble emulsifier that helps to disperse the oils and mica with the bathwater instead of just pooling on top. While it isn’t absolutely necessary, I highly recommend adding this ingredient to your bath bomb mixture.

And if you worry about bath bombs staining the tub, Polysorbate 80 is a must as it prevents stains and transfers to the tub.


  • A bath bomb recipe without cornstarch

    Looking at the ingredient list, you’ll notice that this DIY moisturizing bath bombs recipe is prepared without cornstarch (cornflour). If you have wondered about a substitute or replacement for cornstarch in bath bombs, the answer is you don’t need one.


    Cornstarch is mostly used as a filler in bath bombs to control the fizziness. Skipping it will only result in bath bombs that dissolve faster than bath bombs that have cornstarch as an ingredient.

    Fragrance and essential oils for bath bombs

    Without any additional fragrance, the bath bombs will have a faint cocoa and milk scent that I actually liked a lot. The honey powder barely smells at all so you can add a  honey fragrance oil to make it more pronounced.


    DIY essential oil blend ideas for homemade bath bombs

    It’s also possible to fragrance these homemade bath bombs naturally with essential oils. Here are a few essential oil blend ideas for these DIY moisturizing bath bombs that are wonderful to relax in the tub:


    I recommend skipping essential oils for pregnant women or small children under the age of 6.


    A word about honey absolute

    You might be wondering why I didn’t say anything about honey essential oil. For one, honey essential doesn’t exist. So please don’t purchase anything that claims to be honey essential oil as you can’t be certain what you actually get.

     You occasionally may find a honey absolute, which usually is a blend of honey absolute and a carrier oil, on perfumery websites. It’s often very pricey, and I haven’t tried it yet so I can’t comment much on it.

    Tips for making bath bombs in silicone moulds

    The instructions below explain how you can create bath bombs with  round moulds as you see in the photos. Forming round bath bombs takes a bit of practice and usually works best on days with low humidity. Soft silicone moulds are a great alternative to round bath bombs and make it easier to form bath bombs.

    To make the bath bombs with a silicone mould, prepare the bath bomb mixture as described in the recipe. Then press and pack the mixture tightly into the mould and let dry for at least 24 hours. After that, gently pop out the bath bombs.

    Imagine how cute these milk and honey bath bombs would look in this pretty  bee and honeycomb mould.

    A dropper is used to drizzle gold mica paint over the bath bombs give them a pretty and luxurious appearance.


    How to paint on bath bombs with mica

    The honey and milk powder have a pale yellow colour, and the bath bombs will simply look off white if you don’t add any colour. I decided to jazz up my milk and honey bath bombs and mixed dark yellow mica powder into the mixture to give the bath bombs a soft honey look.


    For a little extra sparkle, I created a thick mica paint by mixing gold  mica powder with pure alcohol. Then I used a dropper to create a splatter pattern on the bath bombs.

    The mica paint technique is very easy and can be used in endless ways to decorate bath bombs, soaps, and other body products.

    Tips for the mica paint technique

    Here are a few tips to get the best results when painting bath bombs with mica:

    • Use  99% isopropyl alcohol. This alcohol is almost pure alcohol without any water and evaporates quickly. If you use alcohol with a lower percentage (e.g. rubbing alcohol), the extra water can cause a reaction with the bath bombs.
    • The bath bombs need to be completely dry before you apply the mica paint. It’s best to wait for at least 24 hours before you paint on the bath bombs. Because cocoa butter takes up to 48 hours before fully hard, I waited for 2 days and put my bath bombs in the fridge for one hour before applying the paint.
    • dropper can be used to drizzle paint on the bath bombs for a paint splatter effect. A soft brush can be used to create broad brush strokes or paint on small details.
    • If you notice that the mica paint starts clumping, mix in a bit more alcohol and combine well.


    • Because I add the Polysorbate 80, the bath bomb didn’t leave a ring of colour on my tub. This may vary depending on the colour and amount of mica you use.
    • I let my leftover paint dry. After the alcohol has complete evaporated, you will be left with mica powder that you can reuse.

    Have you ever painted with mica? Let me know about your experiences in the comment section below!


    YIELD: 6 - 7 BATH BOMBS

    DIY Moisturising Bath Bombs Recipe with Cocoa Butter

    Create Pinterest Pin

    Enjoy a hydrating and relaxing bath with these DIY moisturizing bath bombs! The easy bath bomb recipe, made with cocoa butter, milk powder, and honey powder, will leave your skin supple and soft.

    PREP TIME

    1 hour

    DRYING TIME

    1 day

    TOTAL TIME

    1 day 1 hour

    DIFFICULTY

    intermediate

    ESTIMATED COST

    inexpensive



    Materials

    Milk and honey bath bombs

    Mica Paint

    Tools



    Instructions

    Make the bath bombs

    1. Melt the cocoa butter either in a double boiler or in the microwave set to medium in 1-minute intervals.
    2. Allow the melted cocoa butter to cool for 10 minutes before adding the polysorbate and fragrance or essential oil(s).
    3. Next, sift the baking soda and citric acid into a bowl.
    4. Add the milk powder, honey powder, and mica if using any. Whisk to combine well.
    5. Now knead the liquid ingredients into the dry ones until the mixture has the consistency of damp sand and keep its shape when pressed together it in your hands.
    6. Loosely fill both halves of a bath bomb mould with the mixture, creating a high heap in the middle.
    7. Press firmly together and wipe away any excess.
    8. Carefully unmould the bath bomb and place on a baking tray (sheet) lined with bubble wrap and allow to dry for 24 hours.

    Paint the bath bombs

    1. Cover the work surface with parchment / baking paper and place the bath bombs closely next to each other.


    2. In a small mixing bowl, mix together 1 teaspoon gold mica with 1 tablespoon isopropyl alcohol.
    3. Using a dropper, drizzle the mica paint across the bath bombs. It’s best to do a test on one bath bomb first to see if the bath bombs have dried enough to be painted.

    Notes

    •To avoid a reaction, add only 1 teaspoon of liquid at a time and immediately combine with the dry ingredients.

    •Depending on the humidity in your area, the amount of cocoa butter will vary. I made the bath bombs on a hot summer day and need all of the cocoa butter.

    •High or very low humidity can make it more challenging to shape bath bombs. If you notice that your mixture dries out while forming bath bombs, rehydrate the mix with a few spritzes alcohol or witch hazel.

    Moisturizing Milk Honey Bath Bombs


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    Recommended Products

    As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.


    Baking Soda

    Citric Acid

    Cocoa Butter

    Goat Milk Powder

    Hoosier Hill Farm Premium Honey Powder, 1.5 Lb.

    Mica Powder

    Polysorbate 80

    Metal Bath Bomb Mold

    Lyshi Bee Honeycomb Cake Mold Mould Soap Mold Silicone Flexible Chocolate Mold (Purple)


    Did you make this project?

    Please leave a rating and share a photo on Pinterest!

    © Irena | Country Hill Cottage

    PROJECT TYPE: DIY beauty recipe / CATEGORY: DIY Beauty

    How to use the DIY moisturising bath bombs

    Add one or two bath bombs in the bottom of your shower or in your warm bathtub to create fizz and bubbles and to release the fragrance.



    Storage and shelf life

    Stored in a dry and dark place, the bath bombs have a shelf life of up to 2 months (goat milk powder) or 9 months (coconut milk powder).

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